Latifhussein.la.funpic.de

Imam al-Muttaqeen (Leader of the Pious), Ali (as) and Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan
One day Mu'awiyah was sitting with his associates and Ahnaf bin Qays was also present. In
the meantime a Syrian came and began delivering a speech. At the end of his speech he
abused Imam al-Muttaqeen (Leader of the Pious), Ali (as). Thereupon Ahnaf bin Qays said to
Mu'awiyah: "Sir! If this man comes to know that you are pleased if the prophets are cursed,
he will curse them also. Fear Allah (SWT) and don't bother about Imam Ali (as) any longer.
He has since met his Lord. He is now alone in his grave and only his acts are with him. I swear
by Allah (SWT) that his sword was very pure and his dress too was very clean and neat. His
tragedy is great". The following conversation then took place between him and Mu'awiyah:
Mu'awiyah: O Ahnaf! You have thrown dust in my eyes and have said whatever you liked. By
Allah (SWT) you will have to mount the pulpit and curse Ali. If you do not curse him willingly
Ahnaf: It will be better for you to excuse me from doing this. However, even if you compel
Ahnaf: When I mount the pulpit I shall act justly.
Mu'awiyah: If you act justly what will you say?
Ahnaf: After mounting the pulpit I shall praise the Almighty Allah (SWT) and shall then say
this: "O People! Mu'awiyah has ordered me to curse Imam Ali (as). No doubt Imam Ali (as)
and Mu'awiyah fought with each other. Each one of them claimed that he and his party had
been wronged. Hence, when I pray to Allah (SWT) all of you should say 'Amen'. Then I shall
say: O Allah (SWT)! Curse him who, out of these two is a rebel and let Your angels and
prophets and all other creatures curse him. O Allah (SWT)! Shower Your curses on the
rebellious group. O People! Say 'Amen'. O Mu'awiyah I shall not say anything more or less
than this even if I have to lose my life.
Mu'awiyah: In that case I excuse you (from mounting the pulpit and cursing).
Three bright attributes in the life of Imam al-Muttaqeen (Leader of the Pious), Ali (as)
Mu'awiyah once proceeded to Makkah to perform Hajj Pilgrimage. When he reached
Madinah and met Saad bin Abi Waqas he asked him to accompany him. Saad bin Abi Waqas
agreed. After performing the ceremonies of Hajj Pilgrimage both of them went to Dar al-
Nadwa and conversed there for a long time. As Saad bin Abi Waqas had come to perform
Hajj Pilgrimage on the suggestion of Mu'awiyah the latter thought that Saad bin Abi Waqas
supported him. In order to find out as to how far Saad bin Abi Waqas supported his attitude
towards Imam al-Muttaqeen (Leader of the Pious), Ali (as) he, Mu'awiyah began cursing and
abusing Imam Ali (as) and asked Saad bin Abi Waqas flattering: "Why don't you curse and
abuse Ali?" Saad bin Abi Waqas got annoyed and said: "You have made me sit on your carpet
and then you began abusing Imam Ali (as). I swear by Allah (SWT) that if I had possessed
even one of the many attributes possessed by Imam Ali (as) it would have been dearer to me
than anything else on earth. I swear by Allah (SWT) that I shall not come to see you so long
as I live". Then he left that place in a state of extreme anger".
One day Mu'awiyah criticized Saad bin Abi Waqas for not cursing Imam Ali (as). He said in
reply: "Whenever I am reminded of three virtues of Imam Ali (as), I earnestly desire that I
might have possessed at least one of them: 1. On the day on which Prophet Muhammad
(saw) appointed him as his representative in Madinah and himself departed for the Battle of
Tabuk, he said to Imam Ali (as): You enjoy the same relationship with me which Harun
enjoyed with Musa except that no prophet will come after me. 2. On the Day of Khayber
Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: Tomorrow I will give the standard to a person who is loved
by Allah and the Prophet. All the great officers and commanders of Islam were anxious to
acquire this honour. On the following day, however, Prophet Muhammad (saw) called Imam
Ali (as) and gave him the standard and Allah (SWT) granted us a great victory which was
solely due to the self-sacrifice of Imam Ali (as). 3. When it was decided that Prophet
Muhammad (saw) should engage in Mubahilah (cursing) with the leaders of Najran, he held
the hands of Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn, and said: "O Allah! These are the members of
Name of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) is Synonymous with Justice (Adalat)
On one of the occasions when Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan had gone for Hajj Pilgrimage, he made inquires about a woman, by the name of Darmiyah Hajuniyah, who was well-known
for her long standing support for Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) and her enmity towards
Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan. Having been informed that she was alive, Mu'awiyah ordered
When she had arrived, Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan asked her: "Do you have any idea as to
why I have summoned you before me? I have brought you here to know why you love Imam
Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) and harbour animosity towards me."
Darmiyah Hajuniyah said: "It is better if you refrain from such talks."
Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan insisted: "You must answer me."
Darmiyah Hajuniyah said: "The simple reason that Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) was a just
person and supported equality whereas you needlessly fought him. I approve of Imam Ali ibn
Abu Talib (as) because he loved the poor whereas I detest you because you shed
unwarranted blood, spread dissensions and discords amongst the Muslims, adjudicate
oppressively and unfairly, and act in accordance to your carnal desires!"
Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan was infuriated and an impolite dialogue ensued between the two,
but eventually Mu'awiyah stifled his anger and as per his habit, exhibiting gentleness, he
asked: "Did you see Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) with your own eyes?" She replied: "Yes."
Mu'awiyah then asked: "How?" She said: "By Allah! I had seen him in a state such that this
kingdom and sultanate, which has deceived you and made you heedless, had neither
deceived him nor made him heedless."
Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan said: "Have you heard his voice?" She replied: "Yes. A voice that
would burnish the heart and clear the turbidity from it just as olive oil clears away the rust."
Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan said: "Do you desire anything?" She said: "Shall you give me
whatever I ask for?" When he had replied in the affirmative, she said: "Give me one hundred
Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan said: "If I give them to you, would you look upon me as you look
upon Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as)?" Defiantly, she said: "Never."
However, Mu'awiyah ordered one hundred red haired camels to be given to her and then
commented: "Had Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) been alive, he would not have given you even
Hearing this, Darmiyah Hajuniyah retorted: "By Allah! Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) would not
have given me even one single hair of these camels, for he considered them to be the
What did happen to Three Sons? Friendship with Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as)
After the martyrdom of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) and absolute domination of Mu'awiyah
over the Caliphate, willy-nilly contacts were taking place between him and the sincere
followers of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as). He tried hard to make them confess that they did
not gain anything by their friendship with Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as). Obviously they had
lost everything on the altar of that friendship. He longed to hear from their mouth at least
some expression of regret and remorse, but this wish never materialized. The followers of
Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as), after his martyrdom, had become more and more aware of his
virtues and greatness. Whatever their sacrifices during his lifetime, now they were doing
more for his love, for his principles and for keeping his mission alive. They were facing all
kinds of hardship very courageously. And, as a result, the endeavors of Mu'awiyah
Adi son of Hatim, the paramount chief of the Tai Tribe, was one of the devoted, sincere and
knowledgeable followers of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as). He had many sons. He, his sons and
his tribe were always ready to sacrifice their all for Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as). His three sons
named Tarfa, Turaif and Tarif were martyred in the battle of Siffin under the banner of Imam
Ali ibn Abu Talib (as). The time went on; Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) was martyred;
Mu'awiyah usurped the Caliphate; and once Adi son of Hatim came face to face with
To revive his sad memories and to make him confess how much harm had come to him in
the friendship of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as), Mu'awiyah said:
"What happened to your three sons, Tarfa, Turaif and Tarif?"
"They were martyred in the battle of Siffin under the banner of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as)."
"Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) did not do justice to you."
"Because he threw your sons in the mouth of death and preserved his own sons in safety."
"I did not do justice to Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as)."
"Because he was killed and I am still alive. I ought to have sacrificed myself for him in his
Mu'awiyah saw that he was not getting what he had aimed at. On the other side, he also
wanted to hear about the character and life of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) from those who
had been nearer to Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) and had lived with him day in and day out.
Therefore, he asked Adi son of Hatim to narrate to him the character of Imam Ali ibn Abu
Talib (as) as he had seen it. Adi son of Hatim asked to be excused; but Mu'awiyah insisted
"By Allah (SWT), Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (as) was the most farsighted and strong man. He
talked with righteousness and decided the cases with clarity. He was an ocean of knowledge
and wisdom. He hated the worldly pomp and show, and liked the solitude of night. He wept
more (in love of Allah) and thought more (about Allah). In solitude, he scrutinized his own
self and pitied about the past. He preferred short clothes and simple life. Amongst us he was
like one of us. If we requested him for anything he granted our request. When we visited
him he made us sit near him without keeping any distance. Inspite of all this humbleness, his
presence was so awe-inspiring that we did not dare utter any words before him. Imam Ali
ibn Abu Talib (as) was so majestic that we could not look at him. When he smiled his teeth
appeared like a string of pearls. He respected honest and pious people and was kind to
indigent. Neither a strong man had any fear of injustice from him, nor a weak person ever
lost hope of his justice. By Allah (SWT), one night I saw him standing in his place of worship
when the dark night had engulfed everything; tears were rolling down on his face and beard;
he was restless like a snake bitten person and was weeping like a bereaved man."
"It seems as if even now I am hearing his voice as he was addressing the world: 'O World,
thou is coming towards me and want to lure me? Go deceive someone else. Thy time is not
come. I have divorced thee thrice after when there is no return. Thy pleasure is valueless
and thy importance insignificant. Alas! The provision is too little, the journey too long and
Hearing these words of Adi son of Hatim, Mu'awiyah started crying, and then wiping off the
tears, he said: "May Allah (SWT) bless Abul Hassan [Imam al-Muttaqeen (Leader of the
Pious), Ali (as)]. He was as you have said. Now tell me how do you feel without him?"
"I feel like a mother whose dear one is beheaded in her lap." Replied Adi son of Hatim.
"Wouldn't you ever forget him?" asked Mu'awiyah ibn Abu Sufyan.
"Would the world allow me to forget him?" Replied Adi son of Hatim.